Electric grounding connecter



Nov. 1934. c BISSELL 1,981,796

ELECTRIC GROUNDING CONNECTER Filed Feb. 6, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS,

Nov. 20, 1934. C BlSsELL 1,981,796

ELECTRIC GROUNDING GONNECTER Filed Feb. 6, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORI ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 20, 1934.

' C.H.BISSELL ELECTRIC GROUNDING CONNECTER Filed Feb. 6, 1955 5Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. (a l K131195611 BY ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 20, 1934 ELECTRIC GROUNDING. .CONNEGTER- Carl H; Bissell,Syracuse, N.'Y.', assignor to Grouse- Hinds" Company; Syracuse; N Y;,',a corporation of New York Application February 6;

11 Claims.

'I'l'iis-inventionrelates to electric connectorsor connecters forgrounding conductors as to'a' water pipe, and for-grounding an electricconduit system and the electric wire therein to a i jgrounded conductor,asawater pipe, and'has for its object a connecter of this type which isparticularly and extremely simple and economical in construction,readily installed and consists of from awater pipe and which is readilyadjustable to conform to various angles that the conduit may approachthe grounded conductor or "water pipe.

It further has for its object aconnecter of this type embodying jaws forgripping the grounded} conductor or pipe; one or both of whichjaws havea fulcrunr'or pivotal movement'effected'by a'" clamping member, as abolt, and connections in 1? the nature of a universal connection betweenthe clamping means or bolt and the fulcrumed jaw or jaws which permit orfacilitate the pivotal action of thejaw=or jaws during the tighteningofthe clamping-means;

It further has for its object an arrangement of a wire binding terminalfor the grounding wire coming out of the electric conduitsystem wherebythe, terminal is'clamped or'groundedgtoone of the jawsby thesameclamping means. which 'i clamp the jaws together and which doesnotinterfere with the pivotal or fulcruming, movement' of the jawsduringthe tightening of the clamping means.

Other objects appear throughout the specifica- -0 tion.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference ishad to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views. I

Figure l is a side elevation of one form of my grounding connector,partly in section, the conductors connected thereby being also shown.

Figure 2'is a side elevation of a slightlydiiferent form of connecterfrom that'shown in Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are exploded views of the connecters shown in Figures 1and 2.

1933, Serial No 655,338

(oi;- air-1)" I This connecter comprises g'enerallyopposing;rigid-'jaw'members for gripping a COIldllCtOIfiflS 'alwater pipe,said-jaw members. having..out-" I wardly 'exten'dingshanks rigidtherewith, a rigid:

intermediate member having aportioniextending: 4 betweenth'e shanks, theconnecter having means n formed at least in part in the intermediatememe her for attachment to a second conducton'asan' electric conduit ora cable, and means for .clampi-f ing the jaw members or the shanksthereof to? h ward opposite sides of. the intermediate'z'm'em'e her andalso in some 'instances'lFigure l) in different radial angular relationsto then-inter mediate member and firmly or rigidly uniti'ngthe jawmembers and the intermediate member/to gether so that they act as arigid unit;

InFigures land 3, the-means for connection to'the'second conductor orconduit is provided a wholly -on the intermediate member. l

1 and 2 designate respectively opposing jaw members-for gripping agrounded conductor, as a water 'pipeP, the jaw "members having outwardlyextending shanks 3, 4 respectively, these being usually flat platesrigid with the jaw members. The =jaw portions or faces are so shaped asto grip .80 5 firmly different sizes of pipes.

5 designates the intermediate member, this having a portion 6 which ispreferably flat extending-between the shanks 3, 4, theintermediatemember also having-"means, as an internally 8 threaded "collar or nipple'7, for connection toan electric conduit C. As the jaws have a pivotalmovementduring their clamping action, one or both coact with theintermediate member to'have a pivotal movement or are fulcrumed thereonso as to rock-during the tightening action of the clamping means.

In the form shown in Figure 1, both jawsare capable-of having the samepivotal movement but in the form shown in Figure 2 wherein one of thejaws'or the shank thereof clamps a cable between it'and'the intermediatemember, the other jaw only has a pivotal movement, although as the jawsare clamped toward each other, both would necessarily have some rockingmovement, but in the formshownin Figures 2 and-4, due to the flatbearing faces of one jaw,'which' faces are formed with grooves forreceiving a cable,-the jaw would not have much of a pivotal movement.

The clamping means here shown is a member, as a bolt 10, extendingthrough the shanks of the jaws and the intermediate member 5 and havingshoulders, as the head 11 of the bolt and the nut 12, which thrusttoward the outer faces of the shanks 3, 4e and the-clamping means andthe 119 shanks are provided with means for permitting a fulcruming orpivotal action of one or both of the jaws during the tightening of theclamping means, that is, tightening of the nut 12.

As shown in Figure 1, both shanks 3, 4 are provided with fulcrums 13 and14 coacting with the outside faces of the portion 6 of the intermediatemember, and the bolt 18 extends through the shanks and intermediatemember between these fulcrums and the jaws; and the jaws are providedwith rounding bearing faces which in the form shown in Figure 1, becausethe intermediate member is adjustable into diiferent angular radialrelations, is in the form of spherical zones 15 and 16, through whichthe bolt extends axially. Hence, owing to these rounding surfaces 15 and16, the pivotal movement of the jaws is facilitated during the clampingof the nut 12 in any angular relation of the intermediate member and thejaws.

In the form shown in Figure 1, which is adapted for grounding anelectric conduit system and a grounding wire coming out of the conduit,one of the shoulders 11 or 12 does not engage directly with its coactingrounding surface, as a wire binding terminal 17 is interposed betweenthis shoulder and the opposing rounding bearing surface. Preferably, thewi e binding device is interposed between the head 11 of the bolt andthe surface 16 and is provided with the usual washerlike collar 18through which the bolt extends. This collar is, however, provided with asocket 19 receiving the rounding surface 16 to coact therewith with auniversal joint action during the clamping of the jaws. The collar '7 isprovided with a sight open- 8 through which the soldered joint betweenthe terminal 1"! and the wire is visible for inspection, when theterminal is long enough to extend partly into the collar, or when theintermediate member is so short that the end of the terminal necessarilyextends into the collar.

In the form shown in Figures 2 and 4, one of the jaws, as 20, only isprovided with a fulcrum 21 coacting with the intermediate member 22, thesame as in Fi ure 1, and the shank of the other jaw 23 is formed with aflat bearing surface 24 opposed to a corresponding flat bearing surface25 on the intermediate member 22. These two opposing surfaces are formedwith mating grooves or channels 26 and 27 providing jaw surfaces forengaging an armored cable 28 which corresponds to an electric conduitand the naked projecting end of the wire 29 from which the armor hasbeen removed, the naked end being looped around the clamping bolt 30.

In the forms shown in Figures 2 and 4, the jaws 23 would have but aslight pivotal movement during the clamping of the bolt and tocompensate for any incidental pivotal movement, the shank of the jaws isformed with a substantially cylindrical bearing surface 31 with whichthe nut 32 of the bolt coacts, this being cylindrical instead ofspherical because there is not any angular adjustment of theintermediate member relative to the jaw, no angular adjustment beingnecessary, as the cable is flexible. For manufacturing purposes, theparts of the two forms shown in Figures 1 and 2 are duplicates insofaras possible, hence the jaw 20 is a duplicate of the jaw 3 or 4 (Figure1).

In the operation of the form shown in Figure l, the intermediate memberis attached to the end of a conduit and the conduit brought, bent orsprung into position, whereby its end is near the conductor or waterpipe, at any one of a number of angles. The wire terminal 17 has beenpreviously soldered to the end of the wire coming out of the conduit andthe washerlike head thereof placed between the head 11 of the bolt andthe surface 16. The jaws 1 and 2 are then placed at any desired anglealong the water pipe and the nut tightened, During the tightening of thenut 1, both jaws have a pivotal move-- ment, and this is permitted andmade easy with out undue binding, owing to the jaws fulcruming onopposite sides of the intermediate member 5 and the spherical surfaces15, 16 and the spherical socket 19 of the wire binding terminal 17. Thefulcruming and the universal joint action may take place in any angularrelation of the intermediate member and the jaws.

In the form shown in Figure 2, the cable and wire are placed in it"imposition between the jaw 23 and the intermediate member 22 and loopedaround the b .t 30, the jaws placed in juxtaposition to the water pipeand the nut on the bolt tightened. During the tightening of the nut, thejaw 20 will have a pivotal movement and the jaw 23 a slight pivotalmovement, the pivotal movement of the jaw 23 being the same as in Figure1, and the pivotal movement of the jaw 20 being permitted withoutbinding by the cylindrical surface 31. During the tightening of the nutof the bolt 32, the armor of the cable and the wire are firmly clampedbetween the shank of the jaw 23 and the intermediate member 22 in thegrooves 26 and 27 respectively.

What I claim is:

l. A grounding connecter comprising opposing jaw members for gripping aconductor, said members having outwardly extending shanks, anintermediate member extending between the shanks, the connecter havingmeans formed at least in part in the intermediate member for attachmentto a second electrical conductor, one of said shanks fulcruming on theintermediate member, and means for clamping the shanks against oppositesides of the intermediate member and clamping the jaw members towardopposite sides of the intermediate member, said means including a boltextending hrough the shanks and the intermediate member and a nutthreading on the bolt, the bolt having shoulders thrusting toward theshanks, said shoulders being the head of the bolt and the nut threadingon the bolt, the shoulder coacting with the fulcrumed shank and thefulcrumed shank having coacting bearing surfaces, one of which isrounded to permit rocking movement of the fulcrumed jaw relatively tothe bolt during tightening of the nut.

2. A grounding connecter comprising opposing jaw members for gripping aconductor, said meinbers having outwardly extending shanks, anintermediate member having a portion extending between the shanks, theconnector having means embodied at least in part in the intermediatemember for connection to a second conductor, one of the shanksfulcruming on one side of the intermediate member whereby the fulcrumedshank has a pivotal clamping movement, clamping means for clamping theshanks to the opposite sides of the intermediate member, the clampingmeans and the shank of the fulcrumed jaw having bearing surfacescoacting with a rocking action facilitating the pivotal movement of thefulcrumed jaw members during tightening of the clamping means.

3. A grounding connecter comprising opposing jaw members for gripping aconductor, said members having outwardly extending fiat shanks, w

its

and an intermediate member having a fiat portion extending between theshanks and also having means for attachment to the end of an electricconduit, the shanks having projecting fulcrums on their inner facesopposed to the intermediate member, said fulcrums coacting with oppositefaces of the intermediate member and each of said shanks being providedwith a spheri-' cal surface on its outer face and clamping meansextending through the shanks and the intermediate member between thefulcrums and the jaw portions of said members, and coacting with thespherical surfaces of said members.

4. A grounding connecter comprising opposing jaw members for gripping aconductor, said members having outwardly extending shanks, anintermediate member having a portion extending between the shanks andalso having means for connection to a second conductor, said shanksfulcruming on opposite sides of the intermediate member whereby theshanks have a pivotal movement for clamping the jaws on the conductor,clamping means for clamping the shanks toward opposite sides of theintermediate member, the clamping means and the shanks having bearingsurfaces coacting with a universal joint action facilitating the pivotalmovement of the shanks during the clamping of the jaws on the conductor.

5. A grounding connecter comprising opposing jaw members for gripping aconductor, said members having outwardly extending shanks, anintermediate member having a portion extending between the shanks andalso having means for connection to a second conductor, said shanksiulcruming on opposite sides of the intermediate member whereby theshanks have a pivotal movement for clamping the jaws on the conductor,the shanks being formed with substantially spherical bearing surfacesand a clamping bolt extending through the shanks and the intermediatemember and axially through said bearing surfaces, a nut on the bolt, thehead and nut of the bolt coacting with said bearing surfaces with auniversal joint action facilitating the pivotal movement of the shanksduring the clamping of the jaw members.

6. A grounding connecter comprising opposing jaw members for gripping aconductor, said members having outwardly extending shanks, an

intermediate member having a portion extending.

between the shanks and also having means for connection to a secondconductor, said shanks fulcruming on opposite sides of the intermediatemember whereby the shanks have a pivotal movement for clamping the jawson the conductor, the shanks being formed with substantially sphericalbearing surfaces and a clamping. bolt extending through the shanks andthe intermediate member and axially through said bearing surfaces,shoulders on the bolt, one being the head of the bolt and the other anut threading on the bolt, the head and nut of the bolt coacting withsaid bearing surfaces with a universal joint action facilitating thepivotal movement of the shanks during the clamping of the jaw members,and a wire binding terminal between one of said shoulders and theadjacent bearing surface, said terminal having a socket conforming tothe bearing surface.

'7. A grounding connecter comprising opposing jaw members for gripping aconductor, said members having outwardly extending shanks, anintermediate member extending between the shanks, the intermediatemember and the shank of one of the jaw members having means forreceiving and clamping a second conductor and means for clamping theshanks against opposite sides of the intermediate member and therebyclamping the jaw members on the conductor between them and also clampingthe second conductor between the intermediate member and the shank ofone of the jaw members.

8. A grounding connecter comprising opposing jaw members for gripping. aconductor, said members having outwardly extending shanks, anintermediate member extending between the shanks, the shank of one ofthe jaw members and the intermediate member being provided with opposingfaces formed with means for receiving a. second conductor, and means forclamping the shanks against opposite sides of the intermediate member.

9. A grounding connecter comprising opposing jaw members for gripping aconductor, said members having outwardly extending shanks, anintermediate member extending between the shanks, the shank of one ofthe jaw members and the intermediate member being provided with opposingfaces formed with means for receiving. a second conductor, and with wirebinding means for a wire leading out of the second conductor, and meansfor clamping theshanks against opposite, sides of the intermediatemember.

10. A grounding connecter comprising opposing jaw members for gripping aconductor, said members having outwardly extending shanks, anintermediate member extending between the shanks, the shank of one ofthe jaw members and the intermediate member being provided with opposingfaces formed with means for receiving a second conductor, the other jawmember having a fulcrum coacting with the intermediate member wherebythe latter jaw member has a pivotal clamping movement, and means forclamping the shanks against opposite sides of the intermediate memberand moving the fulcrumed jaw member about its fulcrum and therebyclampingthe jaw members on the conductor between them and clamping thesecond conductor between the intermediate member and the shank of saidone jaw.

11. A grounding connecter comprising opposing jaw members for gripping aconductor, said members having outwardly extending shanks, anintermediate member extending between the shanks, the shankof one of thejaw members and the intermediate member being provided with opposingfaces formed with means for receiving a second conductor, the other jawmember having a fulcrum coacting with the intermediate member wherebythe latter jaw member has a pivotal clamping movement, and means forclampingthe shanks against opposite sides of the intermediate member andmoving the fulcrumed jaw member about its fulcrum and thereby clampingthe jaw members on the conductor between them and clamping the secondconductor between the intermediate member and the shank of said one jaw,the clamping means comprising a bolt extending through the shanks andthe intermediate member, shoulders on the bolt, one being the head ofthe bolt and the other a nut threading on the bolt, the shoulder and theshank of the jaw member which is fulcrumed having coacting bearingfaces, one of which is rounding for facilitating the pivotal action ofthe fulcrumed jaw member during tightening of the nut.

CARL H. BISSELL.

Mil

